Access to potable water at 90% - ministry

The agriculture ministry said 91.7% of households in Namibia have access to potable water.

Speaking at the ministry’s annual performance review workshop on Monday, executive director Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata said a number of activities in the current financial year contributed to this figure. This includes the construction of 12 new earth dams - five in the Ohangwena Region, four in Oshana, two in Kavango West and one in Hardap.

The ministry also constructed three new pipelines and repaired three short pipelines, repaired 47 existing water points, cleaned 34 existing boreholes, connected 815 private water points, drilled 146 new boreholes and equipped 82 newly drilled boreholes. “In addition, the ministry has built 94 sanitation facilities - 88 in Oshikoto, four in Oshana and two in Kavango East,” Nghituwamata said.

Regarding water supply, she explained that progress in ongoing water supply pipelines includes the construction of the Onamatanga pipeline, which is 55% completed, and the Okanguati-Ohamaremba pipeline, which is 94% completed.